Friendo #1 (Vault): I&N Demand “What business is it of yours” why I’m interested in this book, Friendo? Playin’, B. Yet another fun idea from Vault Comics! I’ve got my good eye on the artist, Martin Simmonds. (He happens to be working with main-man Monty Nero on Death Sentence: Liberty, which I’ve happily backed on Kickstarter–and which should be out soon! Yay! Until then-o, of course, I’ll try-o Friendo.) Let’s see what kind of magic he’s got goin’ on with Alex Paknadel, who, for me, is an unknown quantity. But the prospect of a VR BFF goin’ all 5150’s got me giggling back a few decades to the glorious sigh-fi flick Electric Dreams, which sparked my teen-aged imagination in many ways–one of those ways leading to the beautiful topography of a newly-discovered Virginia. Giggles.

High Heaven #1 (AHOY): I&N Demand AHOY Comics rocked the world a couple of weeks ago with TheWrong Earth; and here’s Tom Peyer, this time teaming up with Greg Scott, ready to hit loftier heights with High Heaven. Hell, yeah!

Four days in the hot-spot money pit that is Montauk have me hoping I’m not going to miss some of this week’s big books. With apologies to Van Halen:

Ain’t Montaukin’ ’bout love

Vacay will keep me from the store

Ain’t Montaukin’ ’bout love

Cash-only shopping–I’m poor, yeah, I’m poor!

Doesn’t mean I won’t get out to Android’s to pick up these books, some semi-good lookin’ and some–mostly from the increasingly impressive Avatar Press–downright I&N Demand.

Harrow County #4 (Dark Horse)

Rebels #5 (Dark Horse)

String Divers #1 (IDW)

The Beauty #1 (Image)

The Fade Out #8 (Image)

Injection #4 (Image)

Phonogram: The Immaterial Girl #1 (Image): Just I&N and I&N Demand The team of Gillen, McKelvie, and Wilson–I think they’re OK. (OK: more than OK, really. OK?) If you don’t give them proper credit, you better just walk away–or I’ll slap you upside the head with a copy–I’ll make you pick your own copy, too; there’s a switch!–of The Wicked + The Divine to set your damn head straight. Oh, baby: I’m mad–on a roll, right? And to think: I missed the original Phonogram series; so I’m coming to this kinda like a virgin, no?

Phonogram: The Immaterial Girl #1

Starve #3 (Image): I&N Demand Through two: Starve is full of bold, assertive notes–it’s a massive success! When Gavin–Starve‘s Top Chef–tells Sheldon, “I’m going to show you my city,” I hear Brian Wood himself, who’s so very good at cooking up deliciously diverse worlds with depth of flavor; and his art team of Danijel Zezelj and Dave Stewart (a 2015 Innie nominee for Best Colorist) are the perfect sous chefs, plating–er, paneling–with brash black lines and shadows amplified by alternating–and often blended for a striking contrast–warm and cool tones. Hungry for more? I sure am!

Starve #3

Velvet #11 (Image)

18 Days #2 (Graphic India)

Americatown #1 (BOOM!)

Bloodshot: Reborn #5 (Valiant)

Crossed +100 #7 (Avatar) I&N Demand Alan Moore’s set the stage for Si Spurrier with a sick six issue arc that relied on obsessively intricate world building and long-fuse storytelling; but, damn, did it explode in the end. What an effing payoff! Man, Moore didn’t have to cross the Crossed line to be affective–he just went and redrew the brown out of it. Now, Spurrier’s no stranger to Crossed. In this case, however, he’s working off of Moore’s notes, which puts him in an odd position: he’s sort of a filter, right? One that might miss the mark tone-wise; hell, he might languish a bit with the oft-awkward language Moore’s crafted. It’s a risky proposition, for sure. Spurrier–the winner of the 2014 Innie Award for Best Writer–is pretty damn great, but he’s not Moore. Here’s hoping that he’s not much less, either.

Crossed +100 #7

Death Sentence: London #3 (Titan)

Mercury Heat #2 (Avatar)

Providence #3 (Avatar): I&N Demand Patient, potent: Providence is only two issues in, but Moore’s in deep–basement deep–and we’re right there with him. His commitment to the book is palpable, and he demands one from us; he demands our full attention–and Cthulhu knows he’s going to take advantage of it!

Providence #3

Über #27 (Avatar): I&N Demand Kieron Gillen’s delivered some strong issues along the way, but none as powerful as #26. Leah’s deployment was “everything [I] could have hoped for”–and more. Sure, the German Battleships may have gotten the best of the Brits in this, “the largest enhanced confrontation on the Western Front,” but I was emotionally destroyed by the relationship between HMHs Churchill and Dunkirk. Goddammit, Gillen’s killin’ it!

Archie vs. Predator #1 (Dark Horse) Just I&N OK, so, like, well, everyone else, I pretty much discovered the Archie-verse with Afterlife and regretted not having visited Riverdale more often after reading–along with everyone else–Life With Archie #36. (Heck of a time to jump on board, eh?) Despite my last-second, Scotty-come-lately Archievement, I was pretty settled on passing on this one. I mean, it sounds silly–sure, like Afterlife didn’t–and I didn’t know from Alex De Campi–until I read No Mercy (Image), which was really, really good. So, yeah, I’ve gone from I don’t care to Just I&N–just like that!

Millennium #4 (IDW): It’s not just Jordan, folks: it’s adult Jordan! That move’s a slam dunk in my book! After three issues, there’s no doubt: this is for hardcore Millennium fans only. Good thing I make a point of watching all three seasons on DVD every summer. Heh. Who knew that old practice would come in handy some day? Oh, but it has: it’s kept me so very ready for the further adventures of Frank Black.

The Fade Out #5 (Image): Honesty: I remember liking #4, but I can’t remember what the hell happened. Rrrrrrrrrrrr <—-That’s my avoiding using an obvious pun.

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #3 (Image) I&N Demand #1 was our #3 book of February. #2 didn’t quite reach that level, but it still scratched that itch.

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #3

Magneto #17 (Marvel): Erik’s past has come back to haunt him. No, not that past. Not that one, either. It’s his past-past, his waaaay past–his WWII past: a Nazi tormentor has come to Genosha; he’s murdering mutants and promising to murder more. There’s no way Erik can abide that. Something tells me revenge is in the offing–after he cleans off his bathroom mirror with some disinfectant spray, of course.

Uncanny X-Men #33 (Marvel): The X-Verse has been falling apart for some time now. Took me long enough, but I’ve finally given up on All-New. I should’ve given up on this one, too. So, so terrible. #31 had Cyclops berated by some nobody student in a moment that felt as unauthentic as Harper Row’s inexplicably lighting into Batman back in Batman #whocares; #32 saw him knocked out by Gold Balls. No, really: he was hit in the head with Gold Balls’ gold balls. This one looks like it’s going to be another patented X-filler issue. It’s Unnecessary X-Men #33! Yeah, I think it’s time.

Bloodshot: Reborn #1 (Valiant): I’m off Descender and All-New Hawkeye after trying two of each. Believe me: I want to love something that Jeff Lemire’s writing; I really do. That’s why I keep trying. And here I am, trying again.

Crossed +100 #4 (Avatar) I&N Demand Alan Moore’s brought a touch of Burgess to his narration and dialogue, making his take on Ennis’s mad, mad, mad, mad world read like A Crossedwork Red. No joke: #3 was not an easy read; but there’s still something terribly compelling about it, mainly because Moore’s clearly building–and patiently so–toward something–something big, maybe something not so big at all, who knows? Maybe he’s forging headlong into the heart of darkness, which he’s done before, and which would mean we’re in for a Conradian adventure–one that’s an exercise in superhuman patience. Because, let’s be honest, we all know that anything worth having is worth the work–and the wait. That’s what I skull, anyway.

Giant Days #2 (BOOM!) I&N Demand I had no idea what to expect from Giant Days. Maybe that’s why I ended up loving it as much as I did. Could also be because it’s just that good. Damn thing’s hilarious. Keep an eye out: I’m going to fight to include #1 in our Top 5 for March.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #2 (Archie) I&N Demand Man, I’ve been waiting for this.#1 was one of my favorite single issues of 2014. It was so good–so much better than that other, over-hyped wytch-themed book that overshadowed it; you know, the one that cast a spell with its creators’ names but ended up delivering a real wooden piece of “CHHIT.” No, Sabrina does everything right: it’s a masterclass in storytelling–in juxtaposition, in pacing, and most important, in horror–from Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa–the genius behind Afterlife With Archie–and the panel-perfect Robert Hack. What a mind-eff, no? Seems the comic book home of true terror is Archie Horror!

The Sixth Gun: Dust to Dust #3 (Oni): Yay! I get to add another issue to my Sixth Gun pile.

Avery’s Pick of the Week

My Little Pony: Fiendship Is Magic #3 (IDW): Avery’s Grammy saw #2, read the title through Fiendship, and stopped short with an “Oh.” I assured her that it’s a series about some of the Pony villains. Turns out that my definition of assured isn’t the same as hers.

Lady Killer #4 (Dark Horse) I&N Demand Has been so very good. How good? #1 was our #4 Book of January. #3 will probably end up in our Top 5 for March, what with that stair-raising page turn and all. (I love how serpentine Josie looks as she’s about to slither up the stairs.) With this month’s offering and one more to go, Jones and Rich’s Lady Killer sure is “going somewhere”–straight toward our Top Ten for 2015! High heels down, it’s been the year’s best mini.

Lady Killer #4

Neverboy #2 (Dark Horse) I&N Demand I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the first one. At first I found it kind of annoying; I was really ready to race through it just to get it over with. When I got to that moment–if you read it, you know the moment–I was like “Wow!” and, wouldn’t you know, not put off by the –ugh!–police force, which reminded–and not in a good way–of the Sex Police from Sex Criminals; and as I ultimately finished–not in a manner that reminded of Sex Criminals, mind you–I felt compelled to give it another go. That’s right: I read it again, right then and there, displaying a rather impressive rereading refractory period, if I do say so myself. Yeah, that doesn’t happen often.

Neverboy #2

Convergence #0 (DC)

G.I. Joe #7 (IDW)

Millennium #3 (IDW)

The Dying & the Dead #2 (Image) I&N Demand Really liked #1. It had the potential of collapsing under its own weight–and weighty it was in more ways than one; but it held up well, delivering those heavy Hickman notes that, when they’re right, are as good as it gets.

The Dying & The Dead #2

Southern Bastards #8 (Image) I&N Demand Aaron and Latour deserve a championship ring for almost every issue of Southern Bastards--but particularly for Coach Boss’s backstory, which has been executed like the perfect game plan.

Southern Bastards #8

No Mercy #1 (Image)

Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #11 (Marvel) I&N Demand So, whatever Daddy Rand has brought to NYC is clearly the mother of all mistakes. But what Kaare Andrews has brought Iron Fist–hey. and to comics, in general–is a the most kinetic visual narrative this side of Kindt’s perpetually energetic Mind MGMT. I mean, come on: in #10, Andrews destroys the staple-bound rules of space and time by having Danny punch his way across six pages–three double-page spreads of strike and follow-through that come together as a bone-and-nut-and-bolt crushing six-page spread–in a striking scene that leaves Danny, despite his best shot, at the mercy of his maniacal–and mechanical–father. Sure, Iron Fist may be The Living Weapon, but Iron Fist: The Living Weapon is about as close to a living, breathing comic book as you’re gonna get.

Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #11

Blackcross #2 (Dynamite)

War Stories #7 (Avatar)

X-O Manowar #35 (Valiant)

Avery’s Picks of the Week

My Little Pony: Fiendship Is Magic #1 (IDW)

Feathers #4 (BOOM!): Avery loves following the adventures of Poe and Bianca! Aw, heck: so do I!

Frankenstein Underground #1 (Dark Horse): Anything with Mignola’s name tied to it screams… Well, yeah: it screams. Been around the catacomb a time or two with Frankenstein’s monster, haven’t we?

Mind MGMT #31 (Dark Horse): I&N Demand #30 was easily our #1 book of January. Damn thing erased everything and rewrote it even more painfully. There’s something Stray Bullets-ish about Kindt’s attention to detail across the series, in the impact of each issue; in this case, however, every round is a shot to the head.

Mind MGMT #31

Superman #39 (DC): Geoff Johns’ Superman sounds like Superman, and I’m a super happy man as a result. Who cares if the storyline didn’t develop as well as it could’ve and if Romita and Janson’s artwork appeared faster than a speeding bullet and about as powerful as Mister Roger’s Neighborhood Trolley.

Alex + Ada #13 (Image): I&N Demand This book is a whisper–the breath of a lover that fills your ear and sets off a silent storm that races up your spine, steels your muscles, and makes your skin scream. Yeah, that’s exactly what it is.

The Manhattan Projects: The Sun Beyond the Stars #1 (Image): Hoping that the new format is the key to recapturing the science behind this once superior series.

Outcast #7 (Image): Pretty close to exorcizing this one from the list, as well. Despite some interesting moments, I haven’t developed a connection to Kyle–at least one that has me caring enough to carry on with this very wayward son.

Satellite Sam #12 (Image): I&N Demand The best TV show in comics. Each episode/issue is a sprawling mosaic of self-interest that reads–unlikely–like a long-story-short told round the water cooler. Love it.

Satellite Sam #12

Secret Identities #2 (Image): I was kind of hung up on the untransitions from one character’s secret story to the next. It was a odd choice for a first issue–unless, of course, it was done to emphasize the separate personal spheres, which are such an integral part of the story. Hmm. The twist at the end: ho-hum. Had me thinking Deathmatch in spots. Maybe that’s why I’m on to #2.

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #2 (Image): I&N Demand Spanish Scott is a galleon of gold, and #1 let him shine: his pistolet-à-tête-à-pistolet with Beth and Kretch ranks as one of my favorite panels of the year.

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #2

Zero #15 (Image): I&N Demand #14 could’ve easily ended the series, right? Can’t not speak of the protracted fight scene, which had its moments–including an stare down that jumped off of the page; otherwise, it seemed unnecessary, almost lazy storytelling-wise, which contradicts most of what Kot’s done since #9, our top book of July 2014. It’s been a remarkable run, one that was due a hiccup.

Zero #15

Magneto #16 (Marvel): Magneto’s a badass. And that’s all ye need to know. Wondering what “Secret Wars” is going to do to the mighty Magneto.

Moon Knight #13 (Marvel): Wood and Smallwood’s run–which rounded out 2014 on a high note–stumbled across the finish line with an inexplicably weak resolution to an otherwise compelling story. Now Bunn takes over–with artist Ron Ackins–with expectations unexpectedly lower. Lucky Bunn.

Burning Fields #2 (BOOM!): I thought #1 was pretty solid. I mentioned that it was like Homeland and The Killing. #2 had me thinking The Bridge. Also kind of lost me a bit. I considered just letting it go, but still I buy.

Cap Stone #4 (Titan): Has been OK through three issues. Certainly hasn’t lived up to the promise of the poetic and beautiful–and near miraculous–first issue. Had Moore in mind; ended up Less. Don’t get me wrong: I appreciate Sharp’s vision. Page to page, the narrative’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. At times, however, the disjointedness causes the narrative to stall.

Divinity #2 (Valiant): I liked #1. I’m a big Kindt fan, but I’ve struggled to find a series outside of Mind MGMT that works for me. Sure, I’ve enjoyed The Valiant, but he’s sharing writing duties with Jeff Lemire on that one. While not mind-blowing by any stretch of the imagination, #1 hit some Kindt-ian notes that rang true, that carried consistently through the issue, leaving me far more satisfied than I was after reading Rai and Ninjak. I certainly hope that #2 transcends to the divine.

No, really. I’ve got a hole in my heart. As of right now, however, my cardiologist is pretty firm in his opinion that comics are not the best option with which to fill it.

I’m in the market for a second opinion.

Hellboy & The B.P.R.D. #4 (Dark Horse): Hellish back-grenading, murderous monkey monsters, “insane Frankenstein crap,” and an ominous mound of bones–if that’s not enough to bring a reader back for more, I don’t know what is!

Lady Killer #3 (Dark Horse) I&N Demand #1 was one of our Top 5 books of January. It announced its arrival: “Killer comic calling!” and left quite an impression. #2 didn’t have the same effect–mostly because there was no surprise this time, and expectations were high going into it–but it certainly didn’t disappoint. Joëlle Jones’ artwork is the big draw here–it’s elegantly aggressive and sells Josie’s separate spheres very well. (Doesn’t hurt that it’s polished off to murderous–and motherly–perfection by Laura Allred’s color palette time machine.) Story-wise: despite Josie’s denial, there’s definitely trouble on the horizon–yeah, Jones and Jamie S. Rich aren’t kidding around with the dilemma that’s driving the plot into #3.

Lady Killer #3

Neverboy #1 (Dark Horse): Shaun Simon and Tyler Jenkins are blurring the lines “between the real and the imaginary.” That’s right up my alley, gents! (Consider how blown away I was–still am–by the lengths Matt Kindt went to tearing down the aforementioned lines in Mind MGMT #30, our favorite book of January. Now, that’s how you do it!) Oh, I’ll bite all right. Professional prognostication: I’m thinking that this particular pick’ll be positively Pan-ed!

Detective Comics #40 (DC): All of a sudden, my Bat-book of choice is Manapul and Buccellato’s Detective. How the heck did that happen? The world’s gone mad! It’s–it’s–Anarky!

G.I. Joe #6 (IDW): Through #4, I was all in. I was like, “Yo Joe!” I was 13 again–except for the fact that this wasn’t your grandHama‘s G.I. Joe; this was an elevated–and engrossing–approach from novelist Karen Traviss. Again, through #4. #5? A rather muddled mess. Damn thing’s literally all over the place! Suddenly, I’m left wondering how much more I can take.

Descender #1 (Image) Just I&N and I&N Demand Lemire’s Descender is only the second title to earn both designations! (The first: last week’s Mister X: Razed from master builder Dean Motter.) The blurb on previewsworld.com has me thinking Blade Runner meets Essex County. Yes, please. Is there any doubt that this’ll ascend to the top of our list for the month of March? Yeah. Didn’t think so.

Descender #1

Nameless #2 (Image): If it weren’t Morrison, I’d be off after one. I mean, I’m totally occulted out at this point. If this issue isn’t particularly tight, I’m going to review it this way: Morrison’s occult/sci-fi mash up is Thomas Alsloppy.

Saga #26 (Image): Revolution calling!

All-New Hawkeye #1 (Marvel) I&N Demand Hoping that Lemire is fully invested–that he’s not going to be working at a fraction of his capabilities, especially now that he’s spreading himself as thin as a bowstring. Boy, does he have a huge quiver to fill! Also hoping that he doesn’t miss the mark as he did with Green Arrow.

All-New Hawkeye #1

Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #10 (Marvel): I&N Demand #9 was another explosion of kinetic cartooning from Kaare Andrews. Great splashes, great layouts–the art as a whole elevates an already solid story, solid writing. Reads with an energy similar to Kindt’s Mind MGMT. “Ha-ha-hee!” That’s high praise around these parts!

Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #10

Miracleman #16 (Marvel) I&N Demand Classic isn’t strong enough a word to describe #15. There are moments–impossible moments amplified by impossible choices–still gnawing at me. It’s angels hurling mountains at each other; it’s George pulling the trigger. It’s Alan Moore firing a canon at the superhero and building him anew.

Blackcross #1 (Dynamite): This is an Ellis buy. Recent résumé: Moon Knight was one of our Top Ten Books of 2014. Trees, however, has been freakishly frustrating. (He’s got to know that–he’s got to! So there’s got to be a reason for his frustrating the hell out of us, right? Am I too trusting?) Even though I don’t have any experience with Project Superpowers, I’m going to give it a try.

Über #23 (Avatar): Gillen Hitlered a bunch of high notes in the most recent act of his Wagnerian war story. “Capitulation or immolation,” indeed!

X-O Manowar #34 (Valiant): Remains one of the most consistent monthlies. Never reaches rarefied air, but doesn’t need to to be effective. The book’s biggest strength remains Aric, who has remained true to himself–and to us–thanks to Venditti’s thoughtful approach to his plight and his power.

You did a double-take, didn’t you? You were expecting to read Spider-Gwen at the end of that superlative statement, weren’t you?

Ugh.

Colder: Bad Seed #5 (Dark Horse): Nimble Jack is back, baby! Maybe that’ll add a little oomph to an otherwise lethargic exercise. Tobin and Ferreyra cultivated a creepy tone early on but kind of got stuck in one place. Man, I’d give the finger to this series, but I’d be worried about getting it back.

Mister X: Razed #1 (Dark Horse) Just I&N and I&N Demand It’s the first time a book has earned both enviable distinctions! Oh, yeah, baby! Mister X is back, and we couldn’t be any more excited! One reason–and it’s a good one: back in 2013, Dean Motter delivered the brilliant Mr. X: Eviction, which earned the coveted #1 spot on our highly respected Top Ten list, beating out the likes of Mind MGMT, Six-Gun Gorilla, and Saga. Now that’s gotta tell you something. Can’t wait to see what Mr. Motter has to tell us this time around.

Mister X: Razed #1

Bodies #8 (DC/Vertigo): Gosh. #1 hit the shelves with such promise. Unfortunately, the damn thing collapsed under its own weight and, as a result, has been a four-pronged slog ever since. Glad it’s over.

Suiciders #1 (DC/Vertigo): Lee Bermejo’s doing his own thing. Would be silly not to try it.

Low #6 (Image): I’m still pretty high on Low. Remender’s not ringing my bell anywhere else; but this diving bell of a book is tintinnabulous!

ODY-C #3 (Image): This gender-bending blitz on Homer’s epic is a damn siren’s song; it’s a party with the local lotophagi. Didn’t dig it so much after the first issue. Good thing I stuck around.

Rasputin #5 (Image): I’m riding it out ’til the end of the arc. There isn’t much here that’s keeping my interest.

They’re Not Like Us #3 (Image) I&N Demand Deadly Class only wishes it was this good. How would you act if you had superpowers? Eric Stephenson’s got the answer. Heck, it’s like a team full of feisty and rather petty Ozymandiases. What’s going to happen when the stakes get raised? Can’t wait to find out.

They’re Not Like Us #3

The Wicked & The Divine #8 (Image) I&N Demand The book’s got attitude. Yeah, this book’s a real bitch–a beautiful, effing bitch–one you’ve just desperate to have. But even when you have it, you don’t really have it; it has you.

The Wicked & The Divine #8

All-New X-Men #38 (Marvel): Chapter 4 of “The Black Vortex” crossover. Yeah, I’m out of that loop. Probably going to leave it on the shelf. Hindsight is 22/22: should’ve done the same with the Ultimate waste of an arc.

Daredevil #13 (Marvel): Despite some strong work from Chris Samnee, the Stunt-Master arc wasn’t particularly exciting. Reminds that Waid’s missed the mark some since making the move to the Left Coast. This issue kicks off the final chapter of Waid and Samnee’s run. I say perfect timing. Speaking of perfect: how about Samnee’s cover:

Daredevil #13

Darth Vader #2 (Marvel): #1 was fine. Was the Force with it? Not so sure about that. Got to give Gillen another go-round to see just how dark his helmet gets.

Men Of Wrath #5 (Marvel/Icon): I’ve enjoyed it enough. Father-son stories always hit me where it hurts. It’s like “Cat’s in the Cradle” but the cat’s been blown to furry bits by a blast of buckshot. “When you comin’ home son, I don’t know when, but I’ll fill you full of lead, dad, you know I’ll shoot you in the head…”

Abigail and the Snowman #3 (BOOM!): My daughter’s kind of scared of the Snowman. She has to convince herself that it’s just a cartoon–the same way she talks herself down when Marshmallow shows up in Frozen. Still she’s made it her pick of the week.

Wednesday’s forecast for the weather outside of my local comic shop is pretty much the same as its been: as cold as can be. (I guess someone’s gone and ticked off Elsa again.) The forecast for inside, however, is hot hot hot! (That’s right: the way to thaw a frozen heart is with an act of true love–in this case, a perfectly pulled bag of comics!) Speaking of hot books: our Top Ten Books of 2014 is well represented this week. Take a peek:

I know better, though: B&R‘s been a huge disappointment for months now. In fact, I finally got around to dropping it from my pull list last month. No longer under any obligation, I should leave it on the shelf and fill the void with something new. God knows there will be plenty of players for the spot. Image alone has a thousand new titles coming out in the next few months, so…

Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw #4 (Image): I can’t be the only one who’s noticed: the current arc of Astro City‘s been a bit blah; but this has been really, really good. Coincidence?

Bitch Planet #3 (Image): I enjoyed #1 for all sorts of reasons (exploiting exploitation, lots of Tarantino, hints of Fraction, etc.). Hey: borrowing works well when it works well. Oh, but when it doesn’t… #2 lost me from the get-go–especially as I was taken immediately to a low budget modern-day exploitation flick that I caught one night on one of the Showtime or HBO channels: Raze, starring Tarantino darling Zoë Bell. Coincidence?

Raze (2013)

I’ll try this one and see where it takes me.

Lazarus #15 (Image) I&N Demand Our #2 book of 2014! It’s what we’ve been waiting for for like, well, forever: Forever in a Trial by Combat against another Lazarus!

All-New Captain America #4 (Marvel): I know, I know. But it hasn’t been terrible. And this time out, Remender’s dusting off the Armadillo! Gotta wonder, though, what effect Secret Wars is going to have on this little experiment–and if it’s worth following a dead title shelf-sitting.

Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #9 (Marvel): I love what Kaare Andrews is doing with Danny Rand. In fact, Iron Fist was my #16 book of 2014–and my third-favorite superhero monthly after Silver Surfer and Moon Knight. High praise, indeed!

Magneto #15 (Marvel): Bunn’s done a nice job of telling stories from issue to issue. He’s delivered some nice twists along the way, too. #14 ended with Magneto’s giving himself up to S.H.I.E.L.D. Wonder what his endgame is…

Moon Knight #12 (Marvel) I&N Demand Our #8 book of 2014! #11 ended on a bit of a down note–you know, with Marc Spector falling out of a flying detention facility and all. (Wood and Smallwood must’ve watched–and liked–Stallone’s waterlogged–yet undeniably watchable–prison break bingo, Escape Plan, as they delivered quite an homage with Spector in Stallone’s role and Khonshu in Schwarzenegger’s.) Not looking forward to saying goodbye to Wood and Smallwood, but I am looking forward to seeing how they end their arc–and how they leave things for Cullen Bunn and Ron Ackins. Maybe they’ll reach back to Bullet to the Head. Or Avenging Angelo…

Uncanny X-Men #31 (Marvel): Bendis is on his way out. That promises some real havoc in the X-Universe. No, really–look:

Uncanny X-Men #31

Burning Fields #2 (BOOM!): Kinda like a cross between The Killing and Homeland. Not a bad thing.

Cap Stone #3 (Titan): Some real high points: the conversation between Charlie and her mom; the wild shifts in Sharp’s artwork. Some low points, too: the conversation between Charlie and her mom; the wild shifts in Sharp’s artwork. I loved #1. #2, however, exposed a serious flaw: inconsistency. Still intriguing enough, though.

Mono #3 (Titan): Another book from Liam Sharp that took a step back after a very promising premier. What spoiled the sophomore offering: the conversation–coincidence?–between Heinrich and Isabella, which acts as a dragline on the storyline. Also seems waaaaaay too serious for a book about an ape-man secret agent and assassin for the Queen, doesn’t it? It’s so goddamned dour! I do like the layered approach that Sharp’s taking to create the Mono myth, however.

The Valiant #3 (Valiant) I&N Demand I liked #1 enough–but I absolutely loved #2! I was particularly struck by the artistic collaboration between Lemire and Kindt on the storybook section. Sure, many of the notes that are struck remind of Lemire’s run on Animal Man; but what the hell–they work well here, so all the better!

The Valiant #3

The Twilight Zone #12 (Dynamite) I&N Demand Our #10 book of 2014! This issue ends an extremely powerful arc and Straczynski and Vilanova’s superior run. So sad to see this go. Hmm. Maybe–just maybe–I could travel back in time and kill another series–Dream Police, for instance–in its place…

Snow what? I’m definitely digging the blizzard of comics–whether good or bad–in the forecast for my area.

Resurrectionists #4 (Dark Horse)

Astro City #20 (DC/Vertigo)

Satellite Sam #11 (Image): I&N Demand Sam‘s been gone for a while. Can’t wait to get back into the sordid swing of things. Hope my guy has it in stocking–I mean, stock. Gosh. This cover’s got me Chaykin in my heels.

Satellite Sam #11

Southern Bastards #6 (Image): I&N Demand The shift in the focus of the narrative was surprising, sure. It’s also been pretty boss. A punishing tale of persistence that is its own reward.

Southern Bastards #6

All-New X-Men #36 (Marvel)

Darth Vader #1 (Marvel)

Thor #5 (Marvel)

Brides of Helheim #4 (Oni)

Divinity #1 (Valiant): Just I&N Matt Kindt’s next Valiant venture.Sure, I didn’t like Rai very much; I even lost interest in Unity pretty quickly. But I’m enjoying The Valiant and am curious to see Kindt’s take on Ninjak. This, however, is the one I’m looking forward to the most. I certainly wouldn’t mind if Kindt manages to give me another book to love–you know, to eventually fill the massive void that’ll be created as Mind MGMT reaches its inevitable end.

Divinity #1

Magnus: Robot Fighter #11 (Dynamite)

Q2: The Return of Quantum and Woody #5 (Valiant)

Rachel Rising #31 (Abstract Studio)

The Sixth Gun #46 (Oni)

Über #22 (Avatar)

War Stories #5 (Avatar)

Wild’s End #6 (BOOM!): I&N Demand Wild’s End ends here. How much does that suck!? The first five issues have been anthropomorphically delicious! We have been in love with this series–from Dan Abnett and I.N.J. Culbard–since the deceptively simple and surprisingly affective first issue. (Between you, me, and the scary-ass lamppost: we loved it so much that we named it one of our favorite books of 2014. No, you haven’t missed anything: we haven’t gotten around to publishing the list yet; but it’s coming soon–I promise.) If you’ve pretty much missed the train on this one, do yourself a favor and put the trade on your list. You will not be disappointed.

Of course not. The deep freeze doesn’t give a sleet how hot the books are.

Still worth the risk, though, of jumping into the ol’ snowmobile and maybe–quite possibly–most assuredly–running off the road, ramming into another road warrior, and/or crashing right through the façade of your favorite comic shop.

Right?

Right.

Whoa, wait: I may have something here: a drive thru comic shop…

Somebody get on that.

Hellboy & The B.P.R.D. #3 (Dark Horse)

Lady Killer #2 (Dark Horse) I&N Demand I tweeted this out about a perfectly executed #1 because I had to:

Superman #38 (DC) I&N Demand New costume? Thank God. New power? Say what? It’s as bright as day: Johns and JRJ have been like twin yellow suns re-energizing the Last Son of Krypton; so I’m down with whatever it is they want to do.

Superman #38

G.I. Joe #5 (IDW)

Birthright #5 (Image)

East of West #17 (Image) I&N Demand Everything about East of West has been great. Hickman went bigger with this world of his, and he’s owned it–like a mad god suffering from significant stretches of lucidity.

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #1 (Image) I&N Demand The follow-up to the killer Killers arc. Didn’t read Killers? Haven’t been hit by any Stray Bullets at all? Consider this a jumping on point–one that’ll inspire you to jump backward into the satisfyingly-uncomfortable line of fire; into a shotgun blast of expertly-wielded ambiguity. Pull the trigger, you son of a gun! Give Sunshine and Roses a shot!